Intraocular Rake for Removal of Epiretinal Membrane

Purpoe To examine the feaibility of the ue of a flexible intraocular rake to remove epiretinal membrane (ERM). Deign Interventional cae erie. Method A multi-tine flexible intraocular rake wa deigned. Ten conecutive patient with idiopathic epiretinal membrane underwent vitrectomy and removal of the ERM with the intraocular rake. Outcome meaure included intraoperative complication, Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy tudy viual acuity, rate of recurrent ERM, and rate of peritent cytoid macular edema. Reult The rake wa ued uccefully to remove the ERM in all cae. Two patient had intraoperative retinal tear. At a mean potoperative follow-up examination of 24 week, the viual acuity wa improved ignificantly (20/90 before the operation v 20/50 after the operation; P < .05). One patient had a recurrent epiretinal membrane. Concluion The flexible intraocular rake appear to be capable of the removal of idiopathic ERM. The increaed tolerance for retinal contact that reult from the flexible tine may make the rake of value to many vitreoretinal urgeon.